The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-21
The United States Grand Jury's Long and
Careful Investigation Results in the In
dictment of Thirteen Persons.
Sim Coy and Ten Other Democrats To Be
Tried for the Tally-Sheet Forgeries.
Various Attempts Made to Influence Members
of the Jury to Vote Against Returning
Indietments-N0 Arrests Made Yet.

spiracy of last November, in which a number of
scoundrels were confederated for the purpose of
defeating the will of the people, expressed at
the polls, by means of erasures and changes in
the tally-sheets. 1t is still fresh in the memory
of the public that the indignation that followed
this fragrant attempt at forgery and fraud found
expression in ss-meeting of citizens at the
courthouse. il which honest men of all shades
of political opinion took part, and resulted in
committee of hundred representative citi-
of all parties, who organized for
the purpose of seeing that the guilty
should not escape arraignment at the
bar of justice. The initial investigation be-
fore United States Commissioner Van Burer
stopped by the refusal of Samuel E. Perkins
testify as witness, Perkins holding, by adj
vice of his attorneys, that Mr. Van Buren, had
jurisdiction. The commissioner then
dered Mr.. Perkins to Jail for thirty days for
contempt. On presentation of the case before
him. Judge Woods held that Mr. Perkins must
testify, and appeal being taken to Judge
Walter @. Gresham, the latter ruled contrary
to Judge Woods Mr. Perkins released,
and the matter, far the United States
courts were concerned appeared to have ended
The Committee of One Hundred, nothing
daunted at this somewhat discouraging state of
affairs, brought the matter. through Capt e. f.
Ritter, who had followed the conspirators from
the beginning, before the grand jury
of Marion county. That grand jury COM
posed of three Democrats and three Republicans.
The evidence brought before the jury including
a full confession of Samuel E. Perkins was be-
lieved to be ample warrant an Indictment of
ten a dozen men. The jury could not agree
oindict. the three Republicans favoring and the
three Democratic members voting against in
dictment The three Republican members
thereupon. in order to set themselves right be-
fore the community and to place the failure to
bring the rascals to justice upon the proper
shoulders, offered their designations to Judge
VIM. A. Irwin, who refused to receive them. and
at the beginning of the succeeding session of the
jury read the members lecture.
Meanwhile, in the United States Court grand
jury that had examined a large number of wit
nesses regarding the conspiracy, and had, by
means of stenographer taken down a great
amount of testimony failed to render any bill
of Indictment, and it looked if there was no
hope of getting Indictment in the United
States Court. The conduct of the majority of
the members of this grand jury was so shame
less that its memory will long remain a stencil
in the nostrils of all decent men. Judge Woods,
determined that the matter should not drop,
called special grand jury. and this body
cuded its labors yesterday.
Ever since this grand jury met there has been
a great amount of rumor and speculation as to
what it would do. From the number of wit
nesses examined and the methodical way in
which the examination was conducted, good citi-
zens argued that the guilty were in fair way to
get before the United States tribunal, and that
the world would know all the devious tricks that
had been resorted to, and exactly who had been
~ -S
this community has eTer experienced.
United States District Attorney Sellers was
called away for couple of days, however and
during his absence the examination assumed
phase that made the whole affair appear farcical
Half dozen or more witnesses, who have been
considered as the chief of the conspirators we're
called before the grand jury and examined. and
it began to look if attempt
was being made to put up
defense before the jury, and, by
enlsting the sympathy of certain mem ers. try
to make it appear that the investigation was a
partisan one. A number of grand jurors spoke
to Judge Woods of this sharp practice, and it
was speedily choked off.
A Republican politician is reported to have
been engaged in the interest of the tally
sheet forgers. and, for money consideration,
did all he possibly could to influence such men,
bers of the jury he could approach. Several
letters and number of kilograms were sent out
to different parts of the State after this
grand jury began its investigation. This was
done with view to finding out who the mem
bers of the grand jury are. their surroundings,
and what influences" could be brought to
bear upon this that particular member 1t
may be that this person will not be sufficiently
adroit to escape heavy slap from the hand of
h.
that after the blow falls considerable facial dis
fgurement will follow. All sorts of blandish-
ments were made use of by the friends and as
sociates of the consplrators to reach the grand
Jury in such way to affect the ballot when
the time came to vote upon indicting. One
grand juror who disappeared from his place of
duty was afterwards seen hobnobbing with per-
sons interested in extricating the tally sheet
changers. 1t is understood that this particular
Juror did not vote for Indictment. Two induen-
tial Democratic politicians, recently returned
from Washington, have taken great interest in
the proceedings of this jury, and another person
of Influence" connected with the State benevo-
lent institutions has been at work trying to save
his friends
1t was understood that some balloting had
been done by the jury on Thursday, and it was
expected that something would certainly happen
Yesterday. On Thursday night, until late
hour lights were burning In the Office of the
United States district attorney, and this I'M
usual industry gave hope to the reporters that
something really going to take place. The
grand jury met again yesterday morning, at
o'clock and, after few minutes. without exam
inlng any witnesses, adjourned until o'clock.
They then adjourned again until $50 o'clock.
It was learned that the time thus taken up
because the indictments were not ready, and
there was much speculation among the men of
the press as to how many indictments would be
returned.
AT 6:35 o'clock nineteen grand jurors took seats
in the federal courtroom, and Judge Woods,
Clerk Butler District Attorney Sellers and Dep
uty Bailey entered. Marshal Hawkins and his
deputy Christian Stein, also came in. the fore
of the grand jury David w Cofhn, was